Montecristo Churchill cigar review

5/19/2023

I've had a few of these big Montecristo smokes aging for a few years now.  I thought they were all churchills but some are longer and some fatter.  This one I'm smoking is the smallest.  It's the one on the right.

I recall my review back in October last year of a newer bigger one with the extra yellow classic band.  It was super strong, really unlike most of the Montecristo cigars I've smoked.  I believe to be a regular Churchill.  The bigger ones I can't find any reference to on the internet.  This one is smaller and fits the 7x50 size. 

Starts out really mild, but with good subtle flavors or caramel and nuts.  But, you can barely tell you're smoking it, just subtle flavors left on your pallet.  It's definitely a mild Connecticut smoke.  Not really my type of smoke, but it is great so far for delivering easy smooth flavors.  

Starting to pick up some strength and more flavors.  Earthiness and slight sweetness on the palate. Still mild and very easy going.  A slow smoke made for a long night or a long fishing trip.  

It's packed really tight.  Not an easy drawing smoke, but plenty of flavor with each mellow puff.  Again, not my style.  I prefer a more robust easy smoking cigar with clouds of smoke.  This one is subtle, but good, just have to work it to get the flavors out of it. 

Yeah, it's gonna smoke a long, long time.  30 to 40 min and I still have the ash.

Not bad at all.  I like it.  Not like the bigger versions that I reviewed in Oct.  This is much milder.  I think same flavors but missing the strength.  

Take this one golfing or fishing.  It's a 2 hour smoke if you slowly smoke it.  Is it worth the $300+ a box.  To me, nah.  But if you enjoy a really smooth, flavorful, somewhat complex mild smoke, it might be worth it. I not going to lie.  It is leaving really good flavors in my palate.  If you play the back 9 and keep this one going, you will get your money's worth.  

There's a lot of competition for this flavor and profile.  Sorry, but for the money, check out a Alec Bradley Project 40 Connecticut for a lot less.  It will smoke similar and give you a little more flavor. Maybe not quite as good but, come on, the difference is not much and you can smoke 2 or 3 for the price of this one.  

OK, it has strengthened and added much more smoke now after over an hour now.  It is complex.  Lot of cedar and some spiciness now that I didn't taste at all before.  

It is late Friday night.  I am needing a strong finish.  I do have a small fire going.  Could be my last fire until this fall.  Yeah mid 60s here in Georgia.  That's cold for mid to late May.

Yeah, you'll get a good experience from this one.  It has strengthened a lot at the end.  Strong flavors of charred oak and spice at the end.  It took a lot of smoking to get here but I guess it's worth the wait.  

I'm fully satisfied now.  Palate is overloaded with spice and earthiness.  It's an hour an a half now.  I could put it out and be satisfied, but I'm gonna finish it.  

Overall, I really complex smoke.  Just have to find the time to really enjoy such a long smoke.  I love a long smoke, but lots of smoking to get delivering.  I have more of these amd will have to schedule it right to fully enjoy it.  

Overall  a great smoke.  Just have to know what to expect.  I like it. 

Overall: 89

Flavor 90, complexity 91, burn 90, experience 87, value 88.